256 VETEEINAEY TOXICOLOGY 



these symptoms are repeated, and death occurs in con- 

 vulsions. The lesions are not characteristic, the right part 

 of the stomach being inflamed. 



The same authority describes remarkable effects caused 

 by Polygmimn fagopyruvi, or buckwheat, the grains of 

 which are used as food. The flowers appear to be the 

 more dangerous part, and have caused fatal poisoning of 

 the ox, sheep, pig, and rabbit. The effects appear to be due 

 to a remarkable congestion, leading to redness and tume- 

 faction, especially of the ears and head, but noticed also 

 in other parts. This leads to great agitation, and sheep 

 precipitate themselves against the wall. By affecting the 

 nervous centres the congestion may prove fatal. The 

 course of the poisoning, by its symptoms of hallucination 

 and intoxication, recalls the action of Cannabis indica 

 (Cornevin). 



ARISTOLOCHIACE.ffi:. 



The genus Aristolochia is mainly tropical, although some 

 species are cultivated in gardens — e.g., A. Clematitis, which 

 is the chief poisonous example, although all the species 

 should be regarded with suspicion ; and Cornevin specially 

 names of them A. rotunda, A. longa, A. pistolochia, and the 

 American A. Sipho, 



The poisonous effects are due to the alkaloid aristolochine, 

 which has similar but more powerful effects than aloin (of 

 aloes). In rabbits it causes acute neurotic nephritis, with 

 albuminuria and ursemic symptoms, and in dogs marked 

 fall of blood-pressure, intestinal hsemorrhages, but no 

 nephritis (Cushny). 



Cornevin relates a case of the poisoning of horses by a 

 ration containing rather more than 1 part of A. Clematitis to 

 7 of lucerne. There were noted immobility, torpor, and a 

 drunken condition, with unsteady gait ; pulse ample, quick 

 and hard ; periods of comatose somnolence, marked by 

 slight spasms and convulsions; pupils dilated and vision 

 obscured ; loss of appetite, constipation, frequent urination, 

 and genital spasm. Eecovery was slow. 



